Connie Leyva

Connie Leyva (born February 19, 1967) is an American politician and union organizer, previously serving as a member of the California State Senate in the 20th Senate District from 2014-2022. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Connie Leyva
Member of the California State Senate
from the 20th district
In office
December 1, 2014 – December 5, 2022
Preceded byAlex Padilla (redistricted)
Succeeded byCaroline Menjivar
Personal details
Born
Connie Marie Thedford[1]

(1967-02-19) February 19, 1967
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseAlbert Leyva
Children2
ResidenceChino, California
Alma materUniversity of Redlands (BA)
ProfessionLabor organizer

Leyva was raised in Chino, California, where she attended public schools. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communicative disorders from the University of Redlands.[2][3]

Career

Prior to being elected to the State Senate in 2014, she was president of the California Labor Federation. Leyva was elected to the California State Senate in 2014, receiving the endorsement of the local AFL–CIO chapter.[4]

In 2015, Leyva opposed legislation to end personal belief exemptions for mandatory vaccinations for students in California public schools.[5][6]

On January 6, 2022, Leyva announced that she would not run for reelection to the State Senate[7] as newly approved redistricting maps put state Sen. Connie Leyva (D-Chino) in the same district as state Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) and the two would have had to face off in the fall.[8] On January 26, 2022, Leyva announced that she would be a candidate for the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, seeking to unseat Curt Hagman.[9] She was defeated by a wide margin.[10]

In late October, 2022, the San Bernardino Community College District announced appointing Leyva as executive director of KVCR, when she completes her current elected term as state senator December 5. KVCR is a public radio dual licensee that also operates First Nations Experience, a digital multicast channel for Native American and Indigenous programming.[11][12]

Personal life

Leyva and her husband, Al, live in Chino, California and have twin daughters.[13]

References
  1. "New senator from Chino".
  2. "Biography". Senator Connie M. Leyva. 2014-11-20. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  3. "Connie M. Leyva". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  4. Cendejas, Danielle (April 14, 2014). "California Labor Federation Unites Behind Leyva". Connie Leyva for State Senate. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  5. "Vaccine bill clears key hurdle in state senate". 22 April 2015.
  6. "SB-277 Public health: vaccinations, Votes".
  7. "Leyva to bow out + New CalChamber executive + Sac City Councilman runs for Assembly". MSN.
  8. "State Senator Connie Leyva Announces She Won't Seek Reelection". 7 January 2022.
  9. "Chino lawmaker Connie Leyva makes bid for San Bernardino County supervisor". 27 January 2022.
  10. "Connie M. Leyva".
  11. "California state senator Connie Leyva to lead KVCR". 27 October 2022.
  12. "Press Releases".
  13. "Connie Leyva for State Senate". Connie Leyva for State Senate. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
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